Duck and Tutu

[Tancos]

Advisory for animation fans: the first installment of Princess Tutu is now available on DVD. The reviews I’ve seen have been wildly erratic. I myself am in no hurry to pick up a copy, though I eventually probably will. If you have broadband, you can preview the anime by watching some of the music videos here (enter “Princess Tutu” in the “anime” box and click "search." You need to be a member of AMV.org to download the “local” videos, but the “direct” links are available to anybody.) Judging from these, I would say that the animators actually do know something about dance, but some of the characters need to work on spotting.

[Mel Johnson]

Right, these are anime figures in the Tetsuwan Atom (Astro Boy) tradition, built a little like kewpie dolls. Later, longer, figures are found in the CMX manga Swan. I sometimes refer to these latter types as "Sailor Moon mannerist".